Aircraft tow target carrier



Jan. 16, 1951 G. L. WING SHEE ETAL 2,538,719

AIRCRAFT 'row TARGET CARRIER Filed Dec. 4, 1947 6 Sheefcs-Sheet 1 33043c 44c 39d 2'! \32 6 "3s 47b 37b 38b (0 George LWm Shee 8 /4 L 33 M 1 Iw or on em er L INVENTOI m Fig. 3 Q A THEIR PATENT ATTORNEY a 1951 G. L.V-VING SHEE EI'AL 2,538,719

AIRCRAFT TOW TARGET CARRIER Filed Dec. 4, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FORWARDso George L.Wing Shee 8\ Morton l. Weinberg INVENTOR.

THEIR PATENT ATTORNEY Jan. 16, 1951 cs. WING SHEE ETAL ,7

AIRCRAFT TOW TARGET CARRIER 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 4, 1947 GeorgeL.Wing Shee 8 Morton l. Weinberg INVENTOR.

THEIR PATENT ATTORNEY Jan. 16, 1951 e. L. WING SHEE ETAL 2,538,719

AIRCRAFT TOW TARGET CARRIER Filed Dec. 4, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 GeorgeL. Wing Shee 8 Morton l. Weinberg INVENTOR.

THEIR PATENT ATTORNEY Jan. 16, 1951 G. WING SHEE ETAL 2,538,719

AIRCRAFT TOW TARGET CARRIER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 4, 1947 GeorgeL. Wing Shee 8 Morton l. Weinberg INVENTOR.

BY f l 91 THEIR PATENT ATTORNEY Jan. 16, 1951 2,538,719

G. L. WING SHEE EI'AL AIRCRAFT TOW TARGET CARRIER Filed Dec. 4, 1947 6Sheets-Sheet 6 ABECHGDFJK L. Morton l. Weinberg Fig. I9 INVENTOR.

Eatented Jan. 16 1951 AIRCRAFT TOW TARGET CARRIER George L. Wing Shes;Houston, Ten, and Morton I. Weinberg, Ypsilanti, Mich;assignorstojCubties-Wright Corporation, a corporation of BelawareAppIication'December' I, 1947,.s'eria1'N6'. 789,710

26 Claims.

Thi invention relates generally to externally carried accessories foraircraft and other vehicles, and more particularly to improvements intow target carrie'r systems and their component parts;

In order to provide gunnery training, both for groundandaerial guncrews, similar to that which is encountered in actual combat, it hasbeen customaryto tow a target aloft from a towing airplane for gunnersto fire upon in simulation of such actual combat. These targets aregenerally towed by fast fighter or pursuit type aircraft, referred to'at times as towing or tug aircraft, in order to create conditionssimilar to those met with in actual aerial combat. In the past thetargets have had to be towed aloft from the ground by means of arelatively long cable because sufficient slack had to be provided topermit the airplane to attain flying: speed before the tow target wasmovedoff the ground. This long cable has been, how-- ever, a potentialhazard in that it frequently became fouled with ground objects andoccasionally airplanes hadbeen severely damaged as a result. These prioroperations were usually costly in that after a tow target had beenriddled as a result of practice firing, it became necessary for thetowing airplane to land again to obtain another tow target. A-stillfurther difficulty has been the problem of obtaining adequate clearancebetween the tow target cable and the airplane empennage, or other of itscomponents, inasmuch as prior tow targets have generally been attachedto the external bomb shackle, and the exceedingly lOIlg cable usuallyallowed more freedom of movement of the tow target which increased thepossibility of fouling with the airplane and its parts.

It is accordingly a major object of the present invention to provide acontainer for a tow target which will permit the towing airplane to takeoff with the target in an inoperative, or closely hauled condition,until the desired altitude has been reached; and then to provide for:

the release of the selected tow target to an op erative position fromwhich it may subsequently be jettisoned from the airplane after it isriddled It is a further object to:

It i a further object of the present 'invention to provide a tow targetinstallation in which the target attaching point is more remotefrom theaxis or thrust line of the aircraft than! heretofore to thereby increaseand improveth'e clear-- ance in order to prevent fouling. A: further object is to provide a tow target installation hous ing multiple targetsin an: inoperative or" retractedposition in order to preclude thenecess' silly of landin' i. the airplane each time thata target has beenriddled; It is a still further ob ject' of the invention to provide atowtarget' carrier which may be quicklyand easily installed}v removed orjettisoned from a. pursuit or other suitable towing airplane, thusproviding forgunnery practice at a forward. base of military operations; where the prior conventional type tows ing aircraft might notalways be readily available.

formingia part hereof in which Figure 1 is a side elevational. view ofari air' plane showing a form of'the' present tow target improvementinstalled thereon;

Figure 2 isa perspective view looking from beneath a streamlinedmultiple tow target container for usewith sleeve that targets;

Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of the target storage bin portionof the tow target container shown in Figure '2; 3 Figure 4 is asectional elevational view of the tow target storage bin portion of thetarget'container shown inthe previous figures;

Figure 5'isa sectional elevational view show-w ingithei structuralattachment of the target-tow ing and release latch mechanism at the rearend of thecontainer;

broken away;

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the-same with several targetattachingrings mounted thereon; Figure 8 is a detail view of oneof thetarget attaching rings on the tubular housing of the release mechanism;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a modified formof bin releasemechanism utilizingan operating solenoid for use where the tow targetcompartrnents are spring-biased;

Fi ure 10 is a perspective view of the bottom of the cord coilinstallationin an inverted positi'onutilizing multiple do'ors; Figure 11is a: view of one of the cord coils'witlr spring clipretainers formaintaining the cordcoils in the compartments;

Figure 12 is; a wirin diagram of the 81am cal. circuits for theoperation of the, sleeve type:

tow target systemshown in the preceding 'figures;

Figure 13 is an elevationalview of an indicat ing and control panel forthe'electrical equip ment for such toW target systems;

Figure la is'a perspective view" of the mod ified form of tubularmultiple tow target con tainer for flagtype targets;

Figure 15 is a similarperspective view of ant end of: the same containershowing the door ac-' tuating means;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a modified tow target container forflag type tow targets;

Figure 1'7 is a sectional view oi the doors of the same target containershowing the door actuating mechanism;

Figure 18 is a modified form of such door actuating mechanism; and

Figure 19 is a wiring diagram for the operation of the flag type targetcontainer.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a fighter or pursuit typeairplane 2% having a conventional power plant 2i, tractor propeller 22,wings 23 and an empennage 24. The airplane may also be provided with aconventional landing gear comprising the main wheels 25 and the tailwheel 2'6 adapted to support the craft upon the ground in an attitudeindicated by the ground line 27. The airplane 26 is provided withconventional external bomb shackles 28 and sway braces 29 gaged by thestreamlined multiple tow target container 39. Towed from the trailingportion of the streamlined container 3!] is a sleeve type tow targetattached by means of tapes or lines 3'! to a connector ring 33, which isin turn attached to the streamlined container 3? by means of the towingcord or cable 39. It will be noted that the axis of the tow targetcable, or cord 39, is disposed considerably below the longitudinal axisor thrust line of the airplane and permits of maximum clearance beneaththe fuselage and the tail wheel 26. At the same time, however, thecontainer adequately clears the ground line 2'! in the compacted or theloaded condition of the landing gear.

- Referring now to Figures 2 to 8 inclusive, and more particularly toFigure 2, the streamlined container 3!] is provided with a rounded noseportion 3i and a tiltable bin or storage portion 32, within which aplurality of sleeve type tow targets are adapted to be stored or housedin their folded condition. The multiple bin 32 is preferablysymmetrically supported from each side by a central fore and aft beam orspar member 33, being attached thereto by the clips or fittings 33a asshown in Figure 3 on each side of the central beam. ihe bin compartmentassembly 32 is divided into four laterally disposed sections withinwhich the tiltable bins 34a, 342;, Me and 34d are adapted to beselectively rotated or tilted about the transverse horizontal pivot 35.The aft portion of the streamlined container 30 reduces or tapersappreciably in cross-section to ward the trailing portion 43, withinwhich is housed the cord or cable compartment ii, and which terminatesat its rearward end with the towing and release mechanism 42.

Referring now to Figure l, the second bin compartment 36b is rotatablydriven by a reversible electric motor @532) driving the shaft 431) andthe worm Gib which engages the worm gear segment 46b fixedly attached tothe side of the bin 3%. The bottom of each bin is outwardly curved toform a streamlined continuation of the main body portion of thecontainer 38 and each bin has a rearwardly extending lip portion, suchas 54b, adapted to engage an offset seat portion in the undersurface ofthe cable compartment M. The lip portion Mb has a recess or open slot431) which cooperates with a slot 45b within the bin portion 32' topermit the tapes 3'11), connector ring 38b, and the cable 391) to extendfrom the stored and folded target 36b, outwardly and rearwardly to thecable compartment Gib. To the fixed portions of the container 30 and thewall 32b, there which are quickly and detachably enare fixedly mountedlimit switches 52b and 53b, adjacent the front and rear edges of the bin3422, which switches are adapted to be actuated by the extending detents55b and 5522 respectively. A further limit switch Bib is also mountedupon the wall 32b, remaining closed until opened by the detent 5 th whenthe bin 34b is fully opened. These three switches are adapted tocondition the portions of the circuit shown in Figure 12 controlling theoperation of the motor 491) through the electric cable 56?).

The tilting and retraction of the individual bins, for which theforegoing description of bin 3% is typical, will be described below ingreater detail and it will be sufficient to explain at this point thatas soon as a bin, such as 3% is tilted or dumped the weight of thefolded sleeve target 331) will cause the same to be dropped into theairstream by which it is carried rearwardly beneath the aircraft. It is,however, retained by the respective cable 3% which tears away thetemporary coil clips 4i?) in such manner that the cord or cable isunwound from the spool within the cord housing compartment 4! until therear portion attached to the release mechanism 42 at the trailing end ofthe container 3i? is reached, and by which it is retained and toweduntil it is desired to jettison this particular target.

The target attachment and release mechanism is more fully shown inFigures 5 to 8 inclusive, being retained within the container 36 by thetrailing portion fitting 355a to which it is clamped by means of thesplit clamp fitting 381), as more particularly shown in Figure 5. Therelease mechanism assembly t2 comprises a main cylindrical body orhousing 58 which is cut across diametrically to provide a slot 51 at itsaft portion as shown in Figures 6 and 7. Within the body 56 there isprovided an internal block or guide 53 which is suitably apertured forthe movement of the plunger 59 in an axial direction therethrough, theplunger being subject to actuation by an electric solenoid 56] adjacentthe forward portion of the release mechanism assembly. A tension spring6!, anchored at its forward end resiliently biases the trip 63 to whichthe spring is attached by the apertured ear or lug 62. The trip '53 hasa hook portion which extends outwardly through the slot 5'! beyond thesemispherical portion of the housing 55 on which it is pivotally mountedby a transverse pin 64. The latch hook or trip 63 has a detent portion63a which is engaged and held in its locked or latched position by thedog 65, pivotally mounted upon the housing 55 by the pivot pin 66.

It will be apparent that the hook or trip 53 is readily released fromits latched position as shown in Figure 6 by actuation of the solenoid60 and rearward movement of the plunger 59 causing clockwise rotation ofthe dog 55 beyond the detent portion 63a of the trip which permits thelatter to be rotated in a clockwise direction by the rearward pull ofthe tow target, overcoming the tension of the spring 6|. The individualtow targets are retained upon the release mechanism 42 by means of theseveral ring adaptors 61a, Gib. 61c and 81d, as shown in Figure '7. Atypical ring adaptor assembly is shown in detail in Figure 8 in whichthe assembly 81a comprises a main ring or annulus 68a of an insidediameter such that it is free to slide along the cylindrical bodyportion 56. The ring 68a has pivotally attached to it the U-shaped armor bridle 69a by means of the trunnion-forming pins Ha extendingdiametrically outwardly at each side of the ring 68a.

At the outer or free. end of the bridle 69a it is provided with anapertured lugor ear 16a to which a clevis 12a and a clevis pin i300serve to connect the respective cable or cord 39a.

,. Referring now to Figures and 11, there is shown, respectively, intheir inverted positions,

the cable or cordcoil compartment ii aft of the target bin compartment32 and. .adetailed view -ofone of the cord coilsi'iwith its spring clipor retaining the same in its compartment. Each of l thefour coilcompartments is provided across its a bottom opening withmdoors a and16a; 15b and 16b; 15c and 760;.and15d and 1612 such as for the coil Ha,to which. the cord 39a is connected.

These doors are of the double hinged type, meeting along the centerlines of the compartments.

and are recessedto provide a central opening M through which the cordfrom the coil to the. target and from the coil to the release mecha-.nism are permitted to pass.

. spool assemblies Tl aremaintained in their cylin The coiled cord ordrical shape by dipping in a suitable plastic or While the operatingarrangement for the target .bin shownin Figures 3 and 4 has been shownin these figures, the detailed actuation of which will be hereinaftermore fully described, the bins may alternatively be more simply actuatedby the mechanism shown in Figure 9. In this arrangement each of the bins(such as 3 3 in this figure), is biased as by a suitable coil spring(not shown) which is sufiicient to cause the loaded bin, with the aid ofthe airstream to which it is exposed,

,to be rotated to its unloading position. The bin 34, loaded with itstarget, is releasable by actuation of the solenoid 86 at the forward endof the bin by means of a simple push-button or other switch in thepilotscompartment. Actuation of the solenoid 86 causes the plunger to moveforwardly, and being pivotally connected at 82 to the latch arm 8|, inturn pivotally movable about the pivot 8ia, it causes the lower,rearwardly ex-- tending detent portion of the latch Bl to be retractedforwardly from engagement with the bottom of the bin adjacent the slot43, and accordingly permits rotation of the bin 36 under the influenceof the torsion spring to drop the folded I v target, the bin continuingits rotation through 360 degrees to its starting position.

By reference to the wiring diagram in Figure 12, the operation of thebin type tow target container, shown and described in conjunction withthe previous figures, will be explained. A master ning to the designatedactuating motors, and as shown in Figure 4, these switches are locatedat the aft ends of the respective bins, 34a, 34b, 34c and Bed. The limitswitch 5la, as well asthe others corresponding thereto, are e'ach'in theclosed position in the closed condition ofv the respective bincompartments, these limit switches being manually closed when thetargets are loaded into the respective bins. 10-

The switches 52a, 52b, 52c and 5203, located at the forward end oftherespective bin compartments, are disposed in branch circuits whichare each respectively connected to the power side of the limit switches55a, 5ib,'5ic .andtid, and upon being closed energize the solenoid 5bwhich trips the release mechanism 63 at theaft end of the targetcontainer for the jettisoning of the previously used target; Limitswitches sea, 53b, 53c and ttdare disposed between the motor reversingor door-closing l'inelfiii and the. terminals to the respective motors39a, 431x590 and t9d. ihese latter limit switches are also'disposed atthe aft ends of the respective bins adjacent the above mentioned limitswitches 51a, Bib, 15ic and did, but unlike the latter, the switche'sinthe fita'group are open in the closed'position of I the respectivebincompartment.

The operation of the bin typemultiple' target container 39 isas'iollows: Let us assume that the target container '38 has each ofitsbom'partments loaded with a folded sleeve type. target, which targetshave their towingcordsor: "cables extending from the targetcompartment32, into the coil compartment i i, being temporarilyjtaped tothe bottom of the container by the straps or clips 5! b as shown in"Figure 2; The airplane, accordingly, can take-oii from the groundor'other runway with the targets completely stowed within thestreamlinedcontainer without the danger of trailing cables or. targetsuntil "the airplane reaches the desired altitude and position where thetargets are desired to" be put into use. In this take-off condition, themaster switch 85 has been kept in its open or off position and thelimitswitchestia etc. and 5311 etc. or' similarly in their open or offpositions," the limit switch group 510: etc. are however, each in theirclosed position, having been closed as the respective bins were loadedand returned to their closed positions. Prior to the initialuse of theunits each of the compartment selection switches switch box 83 islocated in the cockpit convenient to the pilot position and has disposedtherein a master three-position switch 85 controlling the energy fromthe battery or other power source 86a through the power line 86, beingprotected.

by the fuse 84. The master switch 85 is movable from the position shownin Figure 12 (in which it closes the circuit to the compartmentselection switch bank 81), through its intermediate open po sition tothe opposite position to the right in l which it supplies current to themotor-reversing,

ordoor-closing circuit 88. A bank of compartment selection switches 81a,87b, 81c and 87d 2ers selectively connectable, upon being closed, to therespective lines a, 58b, 50c and 53d, thereby" closing the circuits tothe corresponding door "actuating motors 49a, 49b, 49c, and 49d. It willbe recalled that the limit switches a, 51b, 51c

and Sid are disposed in the respective lines run- -8'ia, ell), 8'50 andBid arealso'in th'eir open position, as shown in Figure 12.

In order to drop or release the first target 36a into its towedposition, the'switch 85 is'moved into the position in which it suppliescurrent to the switch bankline 8?, following whichthe se lector switchBla is closed.' This serves" to energize the motor isa throughthelinebfia and the closed limit switches Em, and the 'motor through itsdrive shaft 68 and the worm drive 46 imparts clockwise rotatio n, (asviewed in Figure 4:) to the bin compartment. "Shortly after the rotationof the bin has started, the detent 5!}. momentarily engages thecontacto1 of the switch 52a and the solenoid 6d isjenergized,

iereby tripping the latch 83, andj in'suring that the previously usedtarget is jettisonedor dispensed with. Normally, the limit switchbza tothe first compartment can be dispensed with, inasmuch as the, targetsare usually placed into use the customary sequence, ,but'canbe provi 6.in those installations whereit may be detired to use'targetsin anynumberof difierent sequences.

As the rotation of the bin 3% proceeds and its aft end drops into theairstream, the folded target 36a is caused to drop clear due to its ownweight, being momentarily suspended by the cord 39a and the attachedtapes 37a and connecting ring 38a. The cord 39 pulls clear of the clips45?) and starts unwinding from the coil "ll, of which it is a part.Inasmuch as the other end of the cord is connected by the clevis 72a tothe bridle 69a, when the coil is completely unwound and the target hasfallen astern of the airplane to approximately its maximum toweddistance therefrom, the pull is transferred directly to the bridle 69awhich is caused to move rearwardly along the release mechanism body 55together with the ring, Ma until it is stopped by the extending latch63. As the bin 36a approaches its fully opened position, the detent E latrips the actuator of the limit switch Sta into its open position and atabout the same time, the actuator of the previously opened limit switch53a is moved over into its closed position.

After the first target has been riddled and it is desired to extend anew target, the operator moves the master switch 85 over to its positionin which it supplies current to the motor reversing line 88, whichcauses reverse operation of the motor 49a due to the closed condition ofthe limit switch 53a. As the first bin is rotated back in thecounterclockwise direction toward its retracted or initial closedposition, the dentent 54a leaves the actuator of the limit switch Ia inits downwardly extending open position and as the actuator 54a makescontact with the switch 52a as it passes thereover the solenoid 60 isenergized, tripping the release element 63 and jettisoning the firsttarget. Inasmuch as the limitrswitch 5|a thereafter remains open, theswitch 83a can remain closed without causing operation of the motor 49a,unless it is desired to close the bin 34a prior to the jettisoning ofthe first target in which case the switch 81a is opened prior to thereverse movement of the bin, or at least prior to the contact of thedetent 5 5a with the switch 52a.

In a similar manner, each of the three remaining targets cansuccessively be extended into their operative positions in any sequencewhich the operator desires and in each instance as soon as the selectedbin has started its opening movement, momentary contact of the detent 52 with the switch 52 actuates the solenoid 5i} and the trip element 63to jettison the previously used target. An emergency push-button typeswitch 89 in a line 89a is provided in the control box 83 to manuallyenergize the solenoid t at any time the operator may desire, such as inthe event of an emergency and also after the last target has beenriddled and it is desired to jettison the same. In a modified form ofthe control box which has just been described, there may preierabiyinclude an indicator panel similar to that shown in Figure 13 at l23,the panel in this figure, however, being used in conjunction with theflag" type target container shown in Figure 14, about to be described.

A modified form of tow target container is shown in the perspective Viewin Figure 14, this streamlined container being adapted for housing aplurality of flag type target which are also releasable by gravity afterthe towing airplane has, taken off from the ground. This flag typecontainer 90 is comprised of a central body portion 9| in which therolled-up flag type targets are housed prior to their release, as wellas the coils of cord for the respective targets as more 3 particularlyshown in Figure 16; an after rounded body portion 92 housing thesolenoid and release mechanism similar to that previously described forthe sleeve type target container; and a rounded nose portion 93. Theupper portion of the container 99 is provided with a pair of eyes orshackle adaptors 98a which may be attached to the standard bomb racksuspended from the towing airplane.

The central portion 9| of the container 90 is provided with a pair oflaterally disposed partcylindrical doors Qla and 9lb pivotally mountedfor rotation upon the parallel fore and aft axes of the pivots 95a and95b. The container 95 is divided into two pairs of laterally disposedsuperimposed compartments iiia, all), die and 91d which are dividedthrough the central portion by the fore and aft vertical partition 9 3.The doors .iia and till) each control their respective pair ofsuperimposed compartments elm-Sic and 9'lbld, and these doors areactuated respectively by the electric motors 9 3a and 96b, as moreparticularly shown in Figures 15 and 19. Folded flag type targets 98a,98b, 98c and. e801 are stowed within the respective compartments 91 a,Qlb, 97c and Ella, have attached thereto the towing cords lSfia, E9512,I980 and ififid to the coiled spools illa, i'l'ib, File and Illd,respectively. These towing cords continue through the other ends of therespective coils and are attached to the respective ring adapters ltla,lfilb, ltlc and itid, which are adapted to be slid along the releasemechanism l i2 for selective engagement or release "by the trip elementHi5. This release mechanism is actuated by a solenoid and its detailsmay be identical with those described in conjunction with Figures 5 to 8inclusive, as used in the sleeve type target installation.

Referring now to Figure 17, it will be noted that the semi-cylindricaldoors 9m and 9127 are oppositely rotatable about the pivot mountings aand 95b in the directions indicated by the ,l levers are biased by thetension springs H32 in such manner that their lower portions aremaintained in engagement with the aforementioned cams and their upperends are held adjacent the slots [8-3 in the trap doors 986 whichseparate the compartments horizontally. The doors hi4 are hinged attheir outer edges at E55 adjacent the outer walls of the container, andagainst the intermediate dividing partition 96, and are arranged suchthat one door will support the other door as long as it is supported bythe respective lever Etta or will), But at such time as the cams mayrotate either of these levers into the position in which the upper endpasses beneath the slot ldi both halves of the doors are permitted tofall downwardly about their hinges 55 under the weight of the targetcarried thereby in each of the upper compartments.

It will, accordingly, be seen that in the case of the targetcompartments Sid and 970, for example, clockwise rotation of theactuating motor 95a will impart similar rotation to the pivot 95a and tothe attached cam 99a permitting the target 98a within that compartmentto fall clear of the central portion 9| of the container and to be towedfrom the aircraft by its cord or cable IBM in substantially the samemanner as the corresponding sleeve type target previously described?Continued rotation of the cam 990. impartsclockwise rotation to thelever IIiIIa about its pivot Iiila, and against the tension of the.

spring I512, causing the upper'end of the lever to pass under the'slotm3 permitting the doors to fall under the weight of the target 980-which then is dropped into'the lower compartment 91a for subsequentrelease and towing. The-operation of the door 9Ib on the opposite'sideof the container is oppositein direction butsubstantially the sameas'that which has just been described.

In Figure 18, there is shown a further modification of the doors of thetow target container 90 which "is provided with outwardly opening hingeddoors Iiifia and Ififib or a laterally outwardly' moving clarn'shelltype, being hinged at IIII. QIThe container in this modification issimilarly divided into four compartments 91a,

91b, 9T0 and Sid, being dividedvertically by the intermediate wall 85and horizontally by the hinged doors I83, which are hinged onlyat theirouter edges at H39 to the outer'walls of the container. Motor drivenpivots 95a and 95b are trip push-button-for the circuithreaker I:

tion,-there is housed within this control "box an interlocking orholding" relay 1I-2'I, which-=co-:

operates 'with'the control button I25; for the actuation of the steppingunits comprising the step solenoid IZIi'a-nd the ratchet wheel-I2-9,mounted upon the gang-switch shaft 129a; upon i which'is' also mountedthedoor control switch I30, the release control switchi3 I, andthe-i-nter-- lock control switch-I32; as well as the afore---"mentionedindicator-I2 3'. An external View of the control box I22 wasshown and described in con junction with Figure 13 on-the*outer facadewhich isvvisible the indicating-panel 423; and there'is accessiblymounted 'on the samesurface of the control boxythemastertoggle-switch-IM; 1 v

the control push-button I25-and the emergency With respectto-theequipment and-wiring within the target container Iii-the numeralSta 7 indicatesthe motonforthe -left-'hand-compartas; ment as shcwn'inFigure 15;wh-ieh drives --thet shaft-a through; the reductiongearing'vIM-a and Him. --The-- reduction gearing- M341 operatesthe shaftwhiclrturnstasaunit :with thelower left door 9-! a and-the releaseeam-99a for the upper left-compartment-doors-i-M in Figure --1=7-.

provided "in each of the lower compartments and have attached theretothe pivot arms II5' pivotedto the idler links I'I'E'by the pivots IIQ,the link I29 inturn being pivotallv connected to the/arm III, one ofwhich is rigidly attac ed to each'ofthe doors I llfiaa nd I861). Thedoor I08 is held in its" horizontal position as shown in the left sideo'f'Figur'e' 1s; in'whic'h it. supports the weight "of the target 9865in the upper compart mentSIc, by means of the prop element III! which ispivotally conneeted'at' III to the edge of the The lower door "ad.iacentthe central wall 96.

end of -the element III] is retained within a de-.

tent'po'rtion I'I I of-the cam; H2 "which is pivotally mountedat H3;

It will; accordingly, be seen that counterclock- I wise rotation ofthe'motor driven shaft QSa-imparts similar rotation-to thearm H5 andpushes dowiiwardlv and outwardly on the idler link IIfi and thed'o'ora'rm III causing the door iliifia to I assume the open pos tion asshown by the eonstruction-lines in Figure 18. -As' the counterclockwiserotation of the shaft 95a continues, the idler link I I S an'dthe doorarm IQ'I are drawn o po itionindic ted'asNor'1rbyrtheindicatorneedlewupwardly and'in'wa'rdl'y such that the dooriiifia is again closed Thiscontinued rotation of the shaft; 95a and the attached arm H5 and link IIii,

causes the p in l2tl carried by the linklI IE to engage"-aiid'rotate thecanf'l I2 about its pivotiIIi sucli'that'tli'e prop elementi It is'removed from the c'a'm-detent l M'and the door M8 is permitted todro'pfabout its "hinge Hi9 under'the' influence of the weight 'of thetarget Q80 in the upper com part'rneiitTAfter this door has' dropped,'it

assumes aposition 'siinilarto that shown'for the corre onding uoor inthe right hand side of FigufieiBi H ctrical wiring diagram for theactuation of the container" doors of "the modification showiri inFigures 19. 'in'this 'figur' of the diagram is suppliedwithelectricalpower "hatterypr other suitable power source d is lcusedwithin the control box I22 dis- Throughthe reduction gearing 54!;the reams IIlaandiSGa are operated'atonehalf-the speed t a ofthesemi-circular dOOT'Q'IGV -A release--mech-= anism Hi2-includesa'solenoid its for actuation I- of the latch I as previously decribed -in--con-'---- nectionwith' Figures-6 and -'l.-- Themotor 94b, -t

gearing MI I) and the-associated -mechanismon" the right side- 0f thecontainer works-similarlyand iii-sequence; I t t I With themasterswitchI24 and the tow target carrier switch orcircuit breaker IZS in theirclosed po itions, the electrical system :will operateas-followstorelease'the'first target. The

p1ish-'button switch I25 will energize the solenoid to advance-{theratchet wheel I29 one notch and tothereby move the cennected'gangswitchthrough the intermediacy of theshaf-t- I29a; to the of the" scale 'I23.-Arrivalofthe 'gang switch at position No. 1-, closes the holdingwcircuitdue to theclcsin of the g-ang switch'element- I32,-

willxnot "advancethe ratchet I29- or---the.- gang switch-at this time.--The arrival of -theswitchportion itil'of'the gang switch atposition-No.1

1 alsozenergizesthe circuit--6 containing the motor lT'a'rid 1 8 issh'own-in-Figiire' "the wiringat-the upper p'ortion' posed with'inthec'ockpitof'the airplane at a po--# sitioh 'cbnvenient tothe" pilot;or to the operator. t

The wiring'whicnis shown'at the lower portion of Figure 19iisho1isedwithin the central portion targetjcontainr Sit-and the two than controlrelay Itfiapwhich thereupon operates to close the-circuit J ofthe motor940. on ther-leftof -theyccntai-ner unit. 1 The-moton-Qda theref.

upon operates thelow er left doorthrough one complete revolution,dropping the first target 98w.

' after about-one haltof this; revolution; andto' t ward:the;completion-of the revolution the cam 99a .--.engages the lever; IIiila tripping the upper doori rproprso that the upper target-98c dropsintothe -lowerqcompartment 'Duringthis complete revolut on of the lowemdeor iifihrthe cams- 88a and Mila are rotated through one half of ;arevoluetionnr-Toward the end of this-one halfrevolution,

the cam Hlfla opens the holding circuit H at the switch I3Ba, therebyreadying the solenoid I28 for subsequent operation. At the end of thefirst half revolution of the cam l38a. the latter moves the selectorswitch 131a, opening the circuit C such that operation of the motor 94cceases and closes the circuit E to thereby condition the same forsubsequent closing of this circuit by the gang switch.

In order to jettison the first target 98a which has been dro ped inaccordance with the foregoing description, the following operation ofthe mechanism occurs. The second clo ing of the push-button switch I25will immediately re-establish the holding circuit H and will al oenergize the solenoid I28 so that the ratchet I29 through its attachedshaft 29a advances the gang switch to position No. 1%. Thi serves toenergize the relea e solenoid 142 which causes release of the bridle ofthe cable of the fir t target by the action of the relea e mechani m andthe trip M5. This al o ser e to o en the holding I circuit H therebyconditioning the solenoid I28 for a subseouent o eration. In order torelea e the second target 98b. from the lower rig t compartment. theoperation is similar to that described above in connection with relea eof the first tar et except that the ang switch will then be at positionNo. 2 and the circuit D will be energized in tead of circuit C. in suchmanner that the right hand elements in the lower part of Figure 19 willbe o erated in tead o the left hand elements as in t e relea e of thefir t tar et.

Similarly. s bsenuent closin of the pu h-button switch I25 which servesto move the gang switch succe sfullv to po itions Nos. 2 3 4 /2 aresubstantially repetitions of the above described operation to jetti onthe fir t dropped target. and the intermed ate operations to relea e theth rd and fourth tar ets are sub tantially repetitions of the operationto relea e the first and second tar ets with the exce tion that thecircuit E and F are u ed tead of the a ove described circuits C and D.The selector witch IBM is of a snap-action type which holds the circuitC closed until the switch snaps over to the pos tion in which thecircuit E is clo ed at this po nt in the circuit. This maintains therelay 1 5 clo ed, to continue the operation of the motor 9 a. while t eselector switch I3 0. operated by the cam I :1. i shift ng. It will, ofcourse, be understood that the mechani m and wiring in the right half ofthe tar et container 90 is identical with that in the left side exceptthat it is symmetricallv d spo ed; and that its operation issubstantially the same except that it does not operate simultaneously.but in the proper sequence as determined by the gan switch arrangementmounted upon the shaft l29a and comprising the gang switches I30. 13!,and I32, and as shown on the indicator dial I23. It will likewise beunderstood that the doors shown in Figure 18 may also be actuated by anelectrical system similar to that shown and described in connection withFigure 19.

Other forms and modifications of the present invention, both withrespect to their general arrangement and the details of the respectiveparts, are intended to come within the scope and spirit of the presentinvention. as more particularly defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A multiple tow target container comprising a streamlined bodyportion, a plurality of laterally disposed tiltable compartments withinsaid.

12 body, a compartment in the aft portion of said container for housingcoils of cord therein and a, remotely controlled releasing devicedisposed at the extreme aft portion of said container.

2. A multiple tow target container for aircraft including a streamlinedbody portion having an opening through the bottom thereof, means carriedby the top portion of said container for attachment to an aircraft, aplurality of tiltable compartments laterally disposed adjacent theopening in the bottom portion of said container adapted for the housingof folded targets therein, and means for selectively tilting saidcompartments for release of the folded targets through said opening fortowing from said container.

3. A multiple tow target container for aircraft including a streamlinedbody portion, means carried by the top portion of said container forattachment to an aircraft, a plurality of tiltable compartmentslaterally disposed adjacent the bottom portion of said container adaptedfor the housing of folded targets therein, means for selectively tiltingsaid compartments for release of the folded target therein for towingfrom said container and means carried by the trailing portion of saidcontainer for selectively jettisoning said targets from the trailingportion of said container.

4. In a multiple tow target installation for aircraft, a containerhaving a plurality of compartments for the storage of folded tow targetstherein, said compartments being pivotally mounted upon said containerfor rotational movements whereby the contained folded targets aredropped into the airstream, means for rotating said compartments aboutsaid pivots and limit means cooperatively associated with said containerand said compartments for discontinuing further rotation of saidcompartment rotating means.

5. In a tow target container adapted for use in aircraft, compartmentwithin said container for the housing of a folded target therein, atowing and jettiscning device attached to the trailing portion of saidcontainer, power means for moving said compartments into a position inwhich the tow target is dropped therefrom into the airstream, andautomatic means initiated by movement of said container into saiddropping position of said target whereby said jettisoning device isactuated to clear the same of a previously used target.

6. In aircraft, a tow target installation consisting of a multiplecompartment target container, separately pivoted doors at the bottom ofsaid container disposed under laterally disposed vertical compartments,trippable door means horizontally extending across each of saidcompartments dividing-the same into upper and lower compartments eachadapted to house a tow target, power means for the rotation of saidlower door for the release of the tow target therefrom and meansassociated with said lower door for the automatic opening of said upperdoor when said lower door again is rotated into its closed position forthe automatic dropping of the upper target into said lower compartment.

'7. An aircraft tow target carrier comprising an elongated streamlinedcontainer having a tapering rearward end, means within the forward partof said carrier for carrying a plurality of tow targets in theirinoperative stowed condition, means in said carrier rearward of saidfirst named means for storing coils of towing cords for said respectivetow targets and means projecting from said tapering rearward end of saidcarrier for carried by the top portion of said con Iselectively towingand jettisoning said tow targets in their operative extended-condition.

;8. A tow'target releasing device for an aircraft comprising-1arearwardly extending tubular member having its forward portion supportedfrom the-aircraft and having an opening through its trailing portion, a,hook element 'pivotally mount- =ed upon said member such that anextended portion normally projecting beyond said tubular member may berotated into said opening within the endof said tubular member, a ringmember =slidable along said tubular member and having aj releasable towtarget attached thereto, means for retaining said hook element initsoperative position in which it 'preventsfurther axial movementrearwardly of said target-attached ring elementin the towed condition ofsaid target and further means for selectively tripping said hook 7,tainer, a. compartment in the aft portion of said container for thestorage of flexible towing means therein for the respective foldedtargets, a towing hook carried by the trailing portion of saidcontainer, portions of said flexible towing means interconnecting eachsaid folded target with the towing means housed within said aftcompartment and with said towing hook whereby as each said folded targetis released into the airstreain the towing means may be unwound throughone of the openings in the bottom of said container and to be retainedby said towing hook when said target is completely unfolded at the endof saidfl'exible towing means in its operative position.

10. A multiple tow target container for aircraftincluding a streamlinedbody 3: n hav ing openings through the bottom thereof, means ner forattachment to an aircraft, a plurality of tiltable compartmentslaterally disposed adjacent "16 saidfolded target is releasedintothexairstrearn the towing means may be unwound through one openings inthe bottom of said container hook for the iettisoning ofsaid target.

. ii. ,In an aircraft tow targetinstallation a tow target containerreleasably suspended from the aircraft, including a plurality ofcompartments formed within said container, a-folded tow target housedwithin each said compartm'ent and remote control means for selectivelyreleasing said folded targets from their respective compartments withinsaid container.

12. A multiple tow target "container for aircraft including externalsupporting means car- .ried by the aircraft, means for releasablysuspending said container from said supporting -means, a plurality offolded targets housed within said container, remotely controlled meansfor selectively releasing said targets in a desired sequence from saidcontainer and further remotely controlled means for releasing saidcontainer from its supporting means.

13. A multiple tow target container assembly of the aircraft typeincluding means for supporting the container upon the aircraft, aplurality of separately openable Y compartments within said container,tow targets housed within each of said containercompartments and remotecontrol means for selectively opening said compartments for releasingeach said tow target from its res ective compartment within said con--tainer-for towing from the aircraft.

514:. A multiple tow target container including attachment means forsupporting the container -from-an aircraft, a plurality of compartmentsformed within said container, targets housed within the compartments ofsaid container, remote control means for selectively releasing saidtargets from the respective compartments for towing behind saidaircraft, and means .for selectively jettisoning each said target fromits towing connection on said container.

15, A multiple tow target-containerfor aircraft including a targetcontainer attached beneath the aircraft withinits plane of symmetry, aplurality of compartments formed within said container, targets housedwithin the compartments of said container, a towing connection at therear of the-containerand remotely controlled means for selectivelyreleasing said targets from the compartmentspof said container fortowing from r said towing connection.

.16. A ,inultiple tow target container including a body portion, aplurality of compartments with- ,,,in said body portion arranged forthehousing of .folded tow targets therein, further compartments for dwithin said body portion arranged for fhousingcoils of towing cord,therejinQeach of said folded .tow targets attached to a 'coil of towingfcord an opposite end of each said coil of towing cord releasablyattached to the rear of said multiplecontainer and remote control meansfor selectively releasing each said tow'target into its towed positionattached to said container by its said towing cord.

, forwardportion ofsaid container arranged for the housing of folded towtargets therein, further compartments formed withina rear portionar-;ranged forghousing coils of towing 'c ordtherein, each of said foldedtowtargets attached to a coil of towingcord, an opposite end of eachsaid coil of towingcord releasably attached to the rearof multiple contaner and'rernotely controlled means ,for ,selectivefy releasing saidfolded tow targets intothe airstream.

Amultiple tow tar et,conteiinerihcluding a [body portion, anlurality ofcompartment within said hotly portion arranged for ,the housin o foldedtow'targets therein, further compartments formed within said bodyportion arranged for housing coils of towing cord therein, each of saidfolded tow targets attached to a coil of towing cord, an opposite end ofeach said coil of towing cord releasably attached to said multipiecontainer, electrically controlled means if r selectively releasing saidfolded tow targets into the airstream and remotely controlled means forreleasing the end of said coil of towing cord attached to the rear ofsaid container for the jettisoning of its attached tow target from theaircraft.

19. An aircraft target towing device compris ing a container adapted tobe secured to the un derside of an aircraft fuselage within its verticalplane of symmetry, a tiltable compartment formed within the forwardportion of said container, a target folded into said tiltablecompartment of said container, a coil of towing cord disposed within therear portion of said container, a first end of said towing cord attchedto the container, the opposite end of said cord attached to said foldedtarget, and remotely controlled means for tilting said compartment forthe release of said target into the airstream.

20. In an aircraft tow target installation, an airplane having acockpit, a target container supported from said airplane, a compartmentwithin said container, a target housed within said compartment, a towingline attached to said target and to an aft portion of said container,means controllable from said cockpit for releasing said target from thecompartment in said container for towing from an aft portion of saidcontainer and further means controllable from said cockpit for releasingsaid towing line from the aft portion of said container.

21. In a tow target installation, an airplane having a cockpit, acontainer supported from the airplane, a target housed within saidcontainer, towing means attached to said target and releasably fastenedto said container, means including an electric motor controllable fromsaid cockpit for discharging said target from said container for towingtherefrom, and means in-- cluding a solenoid operable from said cockpitfor releasing said towing means and said target from said container.

22. In an aircraft tow target installation, a tow target containersupported from the aircraft, a plurality of compartments formed withinsaid container, a folded tow target housed within each said compartment,remot ly controlled power means for selectively discharging said foldedtargets from their respective compartments within said container intothe airstream in any desired sequence for towing from an aft portion ofsaid container and electric means initiated by the said discharge of atarget arranged to automatically release a previo sly towed target fromsaid container aft portion.

23. An aircraft target towing device comprising a container adapted tobe secured to the underside of an aircraft fuselage in ali nment withits vertical plane of symmetry, a folded target dispo ed within movableportion of sa d container, flexible towing means disposed within afurther portion of said container, a terminal of said flexible towingmeans attached to said folded target, a solenoid-actuated towingconnection carried by said container, a further terminal of saidflexible towing means attached to said towing connection, motor meansfor actuating said movable container portion for extending said targetinto the airstream to its towing position, and remote controlledelectric means aranged for actuating said motor means and said towingconnection for the extension and release of said target.

21. A tow target installation for aircraft in cluding a containerattached to the underside of an aircraft in alignment with itslongitudinal vertical plane of symmetry, a target disposed within saidcontainer, towing means for said target disposed within said container,said towing means attached to said target and to an aft portion of saidcontainer, means for ejecting said target into the airstream for towingby said towin means from said aft portion of the container, means forreleasing said towing means from said aft portion of the container,means for releasing said container from the aircraft during night andautomatic means initiated by the subsequent actuation of said targetejecting means for releasing the prior towed target.

25. In a multiple tow target installation for aircraft, a containersupported from the aircraft, a plurality of pivotally mountedcompartments within said container, 9, releasable towing connectioncarried by an aft portion of said container, a target carried withineach of said compartnts, power means for rotating one of said comentsfor dropping its target into the airfor towing from said connection,remotely controll d means for tripping said towing connection for therelease of a target therefrom, and automatic means actuated by rotationof a further compartment for dropping a subsequent target operative totrip said towing connection for release of the previously towed target.

28. In a multiple tow target installation for aircraft, a containersupported from the aircraft, plurality of pivotally mounted compartmentswithin said container, a releasable towing connection carried by an aftportion of said container, a target carried within each of saidcompartments, towing means separately interconnecting each said targetwith said towing connection, power means for rotating each saidcompartment for droppin its respective target into the airstream fortowing from said connection, control means including a selector switchfor selectively actuating said power means for rotating saidcompartments to drop said targets in any desired sequence, and automaticmeans initiated by the opening rotation of a compart ent for act atingsaid towing connection release for the jettisoning of a previously towedtarget.

GEORGE L. Ii/EN T SHEE. MGRTON I. WEINBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The fo lowing references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Num er Name Date 1,22 .834 Ncrberti Apr. 16, 19181,971,340 Foulk Aug. 28, 1934 2,071,594 Trimbach Feb. 23, 1937 2,138.970Jones Dec. 6, 1938 2,183,540 Campbell Dec. 19, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 672,525 Mar. 3, 1939

